A phobia is an intense, unrealistic, fear that can interfere with every day life.
A few examples would be: Cacophobia (fear of ugliness), Cypriphobia (fear of prostitutes), and Melissophobia (fear of bees).
Symptoms: Anxiety-related symptoms when you’re exposed to the object or situation you fear. The symptoms are both emotional and physical. The symptoms can range from mild feelings of apprehension to a full-blown panic attack. Commonly, the closer you are to the thing you’re afraid of, the greater your fear will be.
Common Symptoms would be:
Sweating
Nausea
Accelerated Heart rate
Diagnosis: To diagnose a phobia, it's hard to differ a phobia from something other than another disorder. A phobia is a more concentrated fear on only one specific situation. Generalized anxiety disorder is an example of a commonly misdiagnosed phobia. GAD, is more broad-based fear while a phobia sufferers can pin point an exact object they fear. Treatment: The most common type of treatment is a cognitive-behavioral therapy called systematic desensitization. Generally, 75% of paitents have overcome phobias
Effect on Daily Life: Depending on the severity of your phobia and what you're scared of depends on how normal you can live your life.
A phobia is an intense, unrealistic, fear that can interfere with every day life.
A few examples would be: Cacophobia (fear of ugliness), Cypriphobia (fear of prostitutes), and Melissophobia (fear of bees).
Symptoms: Anxiety-related symptoms when you’re exposed to the object or situation you fear. The symptoms are both emotional and physical. The symptoms can range from mild feelings of apprehension to a full-blown panic attack. Commonly, the closer you are to the thing you’re afraid of, the greater your fear will be.
Common Symptoms would be:
Diagnosis: To diagnose a phobia, it's hard to differ a phobia from something other than another disorder. A phobia is a more concentrated fear on only one specific situation. Generalized anxiety disorder is an example of a commonly misdiagnosed phobia. GAD, is more broad-based fear while a phobia sufferers can pin point an exact object they fear.
Treatment: The most common type of treatment is a cognitive-behavioral therapy called systematic desensitization. Generally, 75% of paitents have overcome phobias
Effect on Daily Life: Depending on the severity of your phobia and what you're scared of depends on how normal you can live your life.
Information used from:
http://helpguide.org/mental/phobia_symptoms_types_treatment.htm
http://www.phobialist.com/